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Advocates urge Atlanta City Council to advance mold‑testing bill amid alarming test results

Atlanta City Council · February 2, 2026

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Summary

Housing advocates asked the council to move legislation (referred to in public comment as 26 0 1 0 0 5) out of committee, citing lack of enforcement and a tenant lab test showing total spore count 776,171 (guideline <2,500) and Aspergillus/Penicillium 688,533 (guideline <500).

Tori Semmelin, chair of MPUG, urged the Atlanta City Council to advance legislation currently held in the Public Safety Committee (referred to in public comment as 26 0 1 0 0 5), saying code enforcement is not testing or prosecuting mold cases and residents are suffering serious health risks.

Semmelin cited a professional laboratory result for one unit (C120): "The total score count, 776,171. The safe guideline is under 2,500. Aspergillus penicillium, the count from the test was 688,533. The guideline is under 500. Background particulate, 740,413 when it should be under 100,000. And the humidity level in that unit was about 77%." Semmelin said some units already had active code enforcement cases but had not been tested and urged the council to fund training and testing so results will "stand up in court." (public comment).

Semmelin asked the council to bring the bill to a full vote, arguing the city lacks a testing lab and code enforcement lacks equipment and training; she recommended contracting with outside certified labs and funding training similar to neighboring municipalities (she cited South Fulton as an example with a mold unit).

Councilmembers heard multiple public comments about housing conditions and mold during the donated time portion of public comment, but no final vote on the noted legislation occurred at this meeting. Semmelin urged funding for testing, training, and prosecution pathways that would enable code enforcement to pursue violations that threaten public health.

The council did not vote on the mold legislation at the full‑council meeting; Semmelin's remarks were entered into the public record and the matter remains in committee according to the comment.